If there is a good thing usually you want more of it, right? Well, since the success of the Def Leppard & Motley Crue co headlining Stadium Tour last year, the bands decide to do it again in 2023. This time they brought opener Alice Cooper with them. Def Leppard and Motley Crue just did a European and South America jaunt. This was the 1st show back on US soil since returning from those shows.
First up was Rock and Roll legend Alice Cooper. This is the first Allice Cooper show in a while as he just ended his summer tour with his other project, the Hollywood Vampires. This was probably the best one hour show I saw this year. Cooper jam packed 15 songs within that time period and incorporated as many of his stage props too. Sheryl Cooper was there dressed as Mari Antionette for the part in “I Love the Dead.” What should be noted as the first time in 20 years, I saw Cooper bring out the boa constrictor for the tune “Snakebite.” Copper sounded great and they rounded the set with a fantastic rendition of “Elected.” There are always three things certain in life: death, taxes and Alice Cooper putting on a fantastic show!
Next up was Motley Crue. This was the 1st time I took in this lineup of Crue with the recent departure of original guitarist Mick Mars. I also questioned would this be the same show that we saw last year in Orchard Park, NY? The setlist was almost exactly the same, minus a few small tweaks. One of them was what they played for the medley, as the incorporated “Blitzkrieg Bop” (The Ramones cover) and Fight For Your Right (Beastie Boys cover). I will give vocalist Vince Neil his props as he sounded the best I have heard him in years. Maybe it was due to the the month off since their last gig? Drummer Tommy Lee did the same schtick with asking the girls to “show me your motherfuckin’ titties!” Of course, more than few obliged. He also made a funny joke as he announced for the first time ever, I’m going to try to play the piano with his dick. Which was quite comical. A 13 year girl walked on stage as bassist Nikki Sixx was addressing the crowd. He then said to her did you want a selfie, then the girl nervously tried to get the phone right before she took it and then exited the stage. Not sure what that was about? So, my take on this show overall? I think John 5 is one of the best guitar players on the planet and can play anyone’s licks to a T. He did just this for the show in Syracuse. The guys seemed to be smiling and having fun. To me though, Mick Mars was the heart and soul of that band. I felt that part was missing from the show.
Def Leppard were the headliners for this particular evening. They continue to alternate headlining slots for every show. It was a mix of rock and ballads the entire night for Leppard. There were some changes to the setlist with “Let’s Get Rocked” and “When Love and Hate Collide added. The order was a little bit rearranged as well. I thought what I saw on the video screens for some of the tracks was different as well. The band came to the edge of the thrust to play the acoustic guitars set up for them for the song “This Guitar” and snipped of “Drift Away.” Rick Savage and Joe Elliott played them for the beginning of “When Love and Hate Collide” right after. The highlight of their set was “Bringin’ on the Heartbreak” for me. This is one of my favorite tracks and the band still is able to do the song justice. Joe Elliot sounded great and overall, the band did too!
It’s great to see more and more shows being booked at the VMA Wireless Dome. It’s still going through some upgrades but its the only major stadium in Central New York. So hopefully, more shows will be coming soon!
Def Leppard Setlist:
Take What You Want
Let’s Get Rocked
Animal
Foolin’
Armageddon It
Kick
Love Bites
Promises
This Guitar/Drift Away (snippet)
When Love and Hate Collide
Rocket
Bringin’ on the Heartbreak
Switch 625/Drum solo
Hysteria
Pour Some Sugar on Me
Rock of Ages
Photograph
Motley Crue setlist:
Wildside
Shout at the Devil
Too Fast for Love
Iron Man (Black Sabbath cover – snippet)/ Don’t Go Away Mad (Just Go Away)
Live Wire
Looks That Kill
The Dirt (Est. 1981)
Guitar Solo
Rock and Roll Part II (Gary Glitter cover)/ Smokin’ in the Boys Room (Brownsville Station cover)/Helter Skelter (The Beatles cover)/Anarchy in the U.K. (The Sex Pistols cover)/Blitzkrieg Bop (The Ramones cover)/Fight For Your Right (Beastie Boys cover) – medley
Home Sweet Home
Dr. Feelgood
Same Ole Situation (S.O.S.)
Girls, Girls, Girls
Primal Scream
Kickstart my Heart/Star Spangled Banner (Francis Scott Key cover — snippet)
Alice Cooper setlist:
Lock Me Up (First verse only)
No More Mr. Nice Guy
I’m Eighteen
Under my Wheels
Billion Dollar Babies
Fallen in Love
Snakebite
Feed my Frankenstein
Poison
Guitar solo
Black Widow Jam
Ballad of Dwight Fry
Killer
I Love the Dead
School’s Out/Another Brick in the Wall (Pink Floyd cover – snippet)
Elected
We would like to thank Tim Tobin from Livenation for the credentials to review the show.
